Location-efficient Living on the BeltLine

As one of Georgia's first certified EcoBrokers, I am naturally focused on residential energy-efficiency. Over time I've learned that the location-efficiency of a residence usually trumps the energy-efficiency in terms of savings to the home owner. Consider the following scenario [courtesy of Invisible Energy by David Goldstein]: A buyer purchases a home at the approximate median US home price of $175,000. If the buyer puts down 20% and finances $140,000 over 30 years, here's roughly what … [Read more...]

Atlanta’s Bicycle Super Highway

Have you bicycled the Eastside Trail, yet? The 14 foot wide concrete path stretches from Irwin Street on the south end to 10th Street and Monroe Drive (southeast corner of Piedmont Park) on the north end. Bicycling on the BeltLine is a breeze! This changes everything for cycle commuters in the Piedmont Park, Virginia Highland, Poncey-Highland, Inman Park and the Old Fourth Ward areas. The reason the BeltLine Eastside Trail is a game-changer for intown trails is that it reuses an old … [Read more...]

Some Very Cool Cats Live Along the BeltLine

Exhibit A is Piper. Piper lives close to Ponce City Market just a few feet from the BeltLine Eastside Trail. She lives in a drain pipe, thus the name. Piper sometimes runs across my path as I bicycle on the BeltLine. But I'm not scared, even though she is the proverbial black cat. She's not that kind of cat. In fact, Piper is such a cool cat that her neighbors set up a mailbox by her drain pipe where people leave her notes. Dear Piper, the BeltLine Kitty, you haz … [Read more...]